Seeking some feedback on experiences of Navy Reserve Nurse Corps Officer

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Hello all,

I recently posted seeking some advice about joining the Navy active duty as a Navy Nurse Corps Officer by direct accession. As of now, my main concerns with that is how often I would actually have to deploy and the likely hood of getting to get stationed at Portsmouth Naval. The reason for so much concern is that my husband is active duty in the aviation community and is on a sea rotation right now. Also we have two young children. One comment was it would not be for me if I was concerned about that. So, I wanted to see if anyone had any positive experiences with the Navy reserves as an officer? My goal is to basically earn extra money. With signing up for active duty, they are offering $20,000 for 36 month commitment, which is amazing. Hopefully they would offer some bonuses with the reserves. I am an ED/trauma nurse and I want to stay in that entity. Not sure where reserve members would be working? Any feedback, pros and cons, and the steps to take would be awesome. Thank you for your time!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Reservists still deploy, sometimes more than the active components that are needed stateside to keep military hospitals running. It really just depends.

You will still need to contact a healthcare recruiter. Just be aware that bonuses, while advertised broadly on websites, aren't always available for particular specialties that aren't currently undermanned. After leaving active duty (Army), I get at least an email each week that is all "BONUS BONUS BONUS," but then it turns out those are for OR or ICU, not ED/trauma like us. It's a time of drawdown (for now), so most branches are pretty full of nurses. But definitely contact a recruiter! Just FYI, for the Navy I don't think they count your time with an ASN in your overall time as an RN — only BSN onwards (pretty sure; Army counts RN time, period). But for the military, CEN tends to be a gold standard, so you'll definitely want that. They will also want to see a high GPA for your BSN (not necessarily your ASN).

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Hi ,

Im also in the same boat as you but somewhat different. I'm in my last semester of nursing school (BSN) and was also considering the Navy Reserves in the

Nurse Corps. I actually spoke to a medical recruiter here in NJ and he was a NP too. He basically told me that I should focus on having a high GPA and once I had graduated to call him up to speak in person. I told me that I can join as a new grad, but I'll probably find out more once I se him in person. :D

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I was in the Navy. Enlisted as a corpsman. I got out went to nursing school. Our family is a retired Navy family, so during nursing school pops was in a naval hospital as inpatient. Balboa. At that time, I was an excited nursing student, and so, so excited I'm back in a naval facility. I wanted to talk to every nurse officer and let them know I'm in nursing school.

OK, bad idea. I, personally get it. I was enlisted and get the whole politics especially in the military. But, man, these young ensigns and LtJGs were, "don't do it!" "It's not what you think". We couldn't finish the conversation, so I don't know if its "don't be a nurse or don't join the Navy to be a nurse".

Joining the military is a great thing, I'm glad I did it. But, it is a major eye opener. If you are an adaptable person you'll do fine. You'll be commissioned so you will be held to a higher standard...military bearing. As I'm thinking back, it's hard for me to promote it and have someone join or say no. I'm just glad I did it and it's over.

Please don't do this for money. There is no money. There's more money in the civilian sector.

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